The ABC on EDC pens

An EDC pen may be made of aluminum, titanium or stainless steel. Each of these materials means durability and you only need to concern about the weight they bring to the pen.

When it comes to construction of the pen, some give better grips than others. So knurled sections and deep grooves ensure good, sturdy grip when you have your hand gloves on or no gloves on in wet weather.

Some EDC pens give more than writing and are tough, becoming self-defense tools. They may break glass in emergency situations or win you some time as they are sharp and can give a sure cute. They do write, using some special ink that writes anywhere, in the most challenging conditions.

As for the EDC pen types, there are three main categories to choose from.

Tactical pens are used in the tactical and survival missions as they go beyond writing. They break glass and are self-defense tools if the situation calls for it. The tactical pens have aggressive knurled sections and ridges for grip, at least one pointed end and refills that can write in the most difficult conditions.

An EDC pen doesn’t need to be tactical in order to be tough. Many pens today have metal bodies that give them strength and durability. These machined pens may accept tons of different refills and have more heft and a great feel in hand.

The ideal EDC pen has though a small footprint, is built for bigger life span and may be easily carried. The EDC pens let the cap to fit onto the back of the pen to extend as they are typically quite short to write with. They may feature keychain loops so that they may be easily carried around or attached to your EDC gear.

Which type of EDC pen suits you?

You may want to give it a go with a retractable ballpoint pen. This type of EDC pen is affordable, rugged and versatile. It writes smoothly, dries quickly and it’s pretty long lasting and have no cap to lose.

A retractable ballpoint pens may come in a chunky plastic construction with non-slip material grip and is compatible with a wide range of Parker-style ballpoint refills.

You might want to try a multi pen as this type pf pen combines a variety of useful writing tools into a single convenient pen body. There is great variety to choose from and even customizable multi pens that you build from the ground up.

If you think you’re going to write upside down at some point in your EDC adventures, then a pressurized space pen is your EDC pen. It writes upside-down, underwater, over grease and in freezing or boiling temperatures. The pressurized space pens are the no.1 choice for astronauts, explorers, chefs and any other person working in a wet or greasy environment. They have compact shapes for an easier sliding into your pocket and come with caps for more protection.

In case you are a minimalist fan, a mini pen is your perfect EDC pen. This type of pen fits practically any small pocket and clips unobtrusively onto a pocket or notebook, extending for comfortable length when in use.

If you like traditions more than anything, you may still use a fountain pen as your EDC pen. Keep in mind that you always need the right paper for best performance and you also need to give them time to dry. The fountain pens need occasional maintenance, but they offer smooth, one-of-a-kind writing experience.

Mechanical pencils may be used on your EDC experiences and they are versatile as they can write on and be erased from paper and many other materials. The mechanical pencils are waterproof and archival just as well.

When you want to make bold, permanent markings on any hard surface, permanent markers are the EDC writing tool to get. They may come with a stainless steel body and may also be easily wiped off, if you want it. Various types or markers fit various types of surfaces so chose one that fits your needs.

All in all

Get the EDC pen that fits your likings, your needs as you are the only one who knows the best where, when and for how long you’re going to be on an EDC mission.

You may oxygenate the pen after long-time use with some Serval toothpaste sanding

The pen uses good quality ink

The pen writes smoothly

The package contains 1 Mini Brass Pen and 5 black refills

When it comes to the cons, there are a few to mention:

The track for the knob is sharp and very pointy. It may get uncomfortable clicking it open and close

The knob unscrews with the movement of your thumb after few times

The pen is a bit too large when it’s open

All in all, though, for the money you pay you get a reliable EDC pen with some minor issues to it.

For all weather conditions, a good EDC pen is the All Weather Trekker Pen. Along the fact it writes in the rain, the All Weather Trekker Pen has many other good things related to. Here’s our list of pros:

The All Weather Trekker pen writes in the rain

The pen also writes upside down

The All Weather also writes on wet paper

You may use the All Weather Trekker Pen in temperatures from -30F to 250F

The pen uses black ink

The All Weather Trekker Pen has a lanyard ring

You may easily attach the pen to your key ring

The pen is long lasting

You may easily use it by pressing it on

The pen is tough and slick

The pen slides perfectly along your notebook

The body is metal which means durability for the pen

The pen has a lightly-textured black coating with rubber grip and plastic end

The pen gives a good, comfortable and sturdy grip

The package contains the Trekker pen, a carbineer and a neck lanyard

The carabineer is black and brushed aluminum

The neck lanyard is 24” long black nylon, strong and tough

The refills are long lasting

As for the cons, here’s our list:

The pen looks a bit bulky

The lackluster neck lanyard and carabineer aren’t high quality

But, in case you need an EDC pen that writes in a rainy day just as well, the Rite in the Rain Weather Trekker is sure a good buy.

You may choose three different sizes for the pencil (0.7mm/0.5mm/0.3mm)

The lead advance mechanism is precise

The pen has a great built

As for the parts we like less, here are the cons:

The selection mechanism doesn’t have a retracted position

The lead tube is not for storing extra leads

These cons aren’t deal breakers and the Zebra Sharbo is still a good EDC pen.

The more you are willing to pay for your EDC pen, the more you should expect from it. The Kaweco Sport Gel Rollerball Pocket Penmay make you sit on the fence because of its special looks, but there’s nothing doubtful about its performance.

Here are the pros:

The Kaweco Sport Gel is made of solid brass CNC turned parts

The pen is made of raw solid brass

The brass is not treated so it develops a one-of-a-kind patina over time

You may also polish the pen once you buy it for a custom look

The Kaweco Sport Gel has the Kaweco logo displayed on the end of the cap in a silver colored metal

The pen uses Kaweco refills

This is a pocket pen, efficient and reliable

There is high quality large capacity for the rollerball refill

The shape and size of the pen are very practical

The pen is well balanced

The pen leaves a comfortable feel in the hand

There is good grip for the pen

The craftsmanship for the pen is amazing

The pen is solid

For the chrome or gold colored finish there is also an option pocket clip

As for the parts we like less, we only need the mention the shape of the pen. It looks great for some, but may be a bit weird to take for others. It’s also a downside that the pen has no clop for hanging it to a key ring and you may only store it in your pocket or its box.